Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'

-Revelation 21:1-5

What you believe determines what you do and how you live.

The lens through which the Christ-followers view modern events is the Word and Revelation of God to us.

When you come to the end of the book of Revelation, you discover the only thing that can keep you safe in this world is an extreme pessimism accompanied by an outrageous optimism.

1. You’ve got to be wonderfully pessimistic.

No religion or philosophy speaks about the human heart the way the Bible does. Nothing even close to this.

Until you fully understand that we are both pessimists and optimists you will never be safe!

The Bible has some of the most cowardly, egocentric, petty minded, brutal people you have ever seen.

The most honest Christian will tell you that he/she has no idea what our hearts are capable of.

Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 'What is it you want?' he asked. She said, 'Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.' 'You don't know what you are asking.' Jesus said to them. 'Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?' 'We can,' they answered. Jesus said to them, 'You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.' When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

-Matthew 20:20-28

Until you understand the pessimism of the Bible you can never be safe.

Our pessimism keeps us from being duped and protects us from demagoguery.

Christians have a wonderful hesitancy because we realize that the election is about voting for the wiser sinner.

Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

-John 2:23-25

Christians should be involved in politics with eyes wide open. The heart of man is wicked.

2. With equal force, Christians are the most optimistic people in the world.

The best alternative systems of thought offer you is the possibility of a better world until we all die. (Socialism, Capitalism, New Age)

The best alternative religious systems offer you is an optimism that says if you do all the right things, then maybe you will get a “disembodied spirit in some kind of paradise” after you leave this world. (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam)

Jesus had the audacity to tell you about a hope and a claim that is beyond all optimism, validated by His resurrection.

Jesus says I am going to give you a new body and new spirit.

I am making a new Heaven and a new earth.

You will have a new type of flesh—more glorious than you could ever imagine.

The new Heavens and the new earth give us an optimism like we have never seen before ... based on reality.

And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.

-Revelation 1:5

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

-Ephesians 1:13-14

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

-Romans 8:19-21

While we wait for the blessed hope--the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

-Titus 2:13

Unless you have this radical pessimism about the nature of this world and the nature of man, you will never be safe. You will be duped by proclaimed messiahs and tattered by temporary kingdoms.

Unless you have this awesome optimism that there is no hope in us but plenty of hope for us, you will never be safe.

You will become a victim of the world in which you live.

Your captivity today is God’s deliverance and restoration tomorrow!

The future is your friend, no matter what happens.

Our lifelong longing is no fantasy or adolescent dream but the real and true index of your real situation and what you were made for.

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